Giving Back With Chess: Charity Chess Champs Set for May 21

10-year-old Daniel Mero first came up for the idea of the Charity Chess Championship with his father Scott, as a way to give back to the community using the game he’s been passionate about since kindergarten. The event, to be held on May 21, Sunday in New York City at the Park Avenue Synagogue will benefit Band of Parents, a non-profit organization funding new therapies for Neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in children under two years.

Scott told US Chess, “My wife Norma has been battling breast cancer for over a year. We wanted to teach Daniel about charitable giving and community service. Daniel loves chess, so after brainstorming, we came up with a way to combine chess and charitable giving.” They intend to host a charity chess tournament annually, and to choose a different charity to support each year. Scott explains their choice for the inaugural event: “Our friend Marc Winthrop started Band of Parents to help fund research for Neuroblastoma. Tragically he lost a daughter, Talia, to neuroblastoma at the age of 13. Pediatric cancer is severely underfunded and we thought Band of Parents would be a worthy charity to support.”

Daniel Mero with his coach John MacArthur and GM Joel Benjamin

Daniel is in the fourth grade at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School (CGPS). Children at CGPS are introduced to chess in kindergarten, where it is a required subject. CGPS coach Sophia Rohde organizes and runs city (NYC), state (NY) and national chess tournaments, and was immediately on board, along with Daniel’s own coach, NM John MacArthur, also of CGPS. Danny Rohde and Grandmasters Michael Rohde, Joel Benjamin and Marc Arnold are also enthusiastic supporters of the Charity Chess Championships.

Scott Mero told US Chess, “I plan to be in Nashville with Norma and Daniel for SupernationalsVI and we will continue to spread the word about the tournament (which will be held a week later). We already have people from different parts of the country logging on to our website www.charitychess.org to register for the tournament and make donations. Everyone can make a difference, even if you can’t attend in person.”

Comments

When I asked whether he now saw himself as ‘giving something back’ he bridled: ‘That phrase “giving back” has always bothered me,’ he said tartly, ‘because it implies that you took something inappropriately and now you’re returning it. That certainly isn’t the case.’ – Rex Sinquefield, pg 269 of The Rookie: An odyssey through chess (and life), by Stephen Moss

Two years ago I spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the Denker, Barber and National Girls Invitational Championships. Part of my presentation was called “Paying It Forward with Chess”. I challenged all of these talented Champions to go out and teach chess to young people who did not know how to play. The requirement was that no compensation in any form could be accepted.
Congratulations to Daniel on organizing his event.

Great article! Thanks for the kind words Dewain! When Daniel and his family came to us with this idea we simply were amazed he thought of doing something like this. We are proud to help them set it in motion for May 21, and make this an annual event! Please go to the website at charitychess.org for more information!

Hi Scott,
Im so proud of you and Norma you both raised such a great boy. Daniel is doing a very charitable thing thank God he’s so caring. I hope to see you soon im going to try and get there on the 21st. Miss you cuz and love you all.